Thanks for coming here, dkr1.

If you've already performed the steps on how to resolved issues when QuickBooks stopped working, then we can try a few more troubleshooting options to get rid of the Com Error.

Let's begin by making sure your QuickBooks Desktop is updated to the latest release. Instructions are outlined below:

1. Go to the Help menu and select Update QuickBooks.
2. Choose the Options tab.
3. Click the Mark All button, then Save.
4. Click Update Now.
5. Check the Reset Update box, then click Get Updates.

If this doesn't work, you can try updating the Microsoft Outlook. I'll walk you through the steps below:

1. In Microsoft Outlook, go to File.
2. Select Office Account, then Update Options.
3. Select Update Now.

You can check this article for additional troubleshooting options with Com Error: Crash: Com Error in QuickBooks Desktop.

I'm committed in making sure this issue gets resolved. Come and visit us again whenever you need help. It's my pleasure to assist. Wishing you well.

I don't use Outlook.  A very old edition (2007) is installed on my computer though.  Should I uninstall it?  It doesn't have any of the options under "file" that you suggested.

Thanks for getting back in touch, @dkr1.

You may verify and rebuild your data in QuickBooks. Verifying dada self-identifies the most commonly known data issues.

Here’s how:

1. Choose Window then Close All.
2. Verify Data. Click File then Utilities. Select Verify Data. If you see:

QuickBooks detected no problems with your data, no further action is needed.

A specific error message, there may already be an article for it

Your data has lost integrity, indicates there is data damage in the file.  Continue to the steps below to Rebuild Data to correct the problem.

1. Choose File, Utilities then Rebuild Data.
2. Press OK.
3. Select where you want to save your backup, then pick OK at the bottom of the QuickBooks Desktop Backup window.
4. The Rebuild Data utility starts as soon as the backup is finished.
5. Click OK when you get the message Rebuild has completed.

For further information about verifying and rebuilding data check out this article:

https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/data-utilities/verify-and-rebuild-data-in-quickboo...

Let me know if there’s anything else I can help with.

Thank you.  But...that didn't work either.  I sill get the "Quickbooks Assistance Application has stopped working"  I've tried all of the steps listed in this article.  There's got to be some file hidden somewhere within Quickbooks that allows me to "set your company file to use the manual payroll calcuations setting"  Any ideas how to find it and enable it if I can't get to it because my "help" menu doesn't work?

Hi @dkr1,

If you've already tried the troubleshooting steps provided by my colleagues above and the issue still persists, I suggest you contact our Technical Support team for further assistance. 

They can pull up your account information within a secure environment. They also have the necessary tools to investigate as to why you receive the error message you stated above, such as a screen share session. 

Here's how:

1. On your QuickBooks homepage, go to the Help menu.
2. Choose QuickBooks Desktop Help.
3. Tap the Contact us button.

I'll be around in case you need further assistance. Drop a comment below, and I'll be sure to get back to you.

I tried this and it did not work.  I have the Pro 2020 version.  I added what you said to the notepad, saved it, closed it.  Opened my Quickbooks file and still the manual payroll is disabled.  I was told by the Quickbook sales team that 2020 version I'd be able to do manual payroll without a subscription.  So I bought the upgrade just to find out I am STILL UNABLE to do it!  Very upset about this!  I only do a few paychecks a year so I do not want to have to purchase the service!

Hi there, @croskin.

Thank you for trying the steps my colleagues mentioned above. Manual payroll is available in QuickBooks Desktop. Important to remember that QuickBooks cannot connect to the Internet at any point of time. Once it's connected, then it will want you to purchase a payroll subscription. Let's get started with setting up manual payroll with just a few simple steps.

1. Open QuickBooks Desktop, Log in as Admin.
2. Click Edit then Preferences.
3. Choose Payroll & Employees, then Company Preferences tab
4. In the QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Features section, select the Full payroll and the Manual Payroll checkboxes.
5. Hit Ok.

 You can also check out more information in the help menu.

After the steps are complete, please log out of the company file and close QuickBooks Completely. When you log back in, you'll be ready to do payroll manually.

If you have any further questions or concerns, I'm always here to lend a helping hand.

That still does not work.  The "manual" button is grayed out.  I cannot check it.  I can check "payroll", but not the "manual" button.  Even after calling and talking to someone who didn't seem to know how to help me.  He even got onto my screen and then just told me it was not possible in the updated 2020 Pro version.  So it seems as if everyone in Quickbooks is telling me something different.  Please help!!!!

Hi @croskin,

Thank you for your prompt reply, as well as providing an update on your current situation. 

If you've already tried the steps provided by my colleague above and you still have the same issue, I suggest you get a hold of our Technical Support team. I understand that you've already contacted them before, but they're the ones who can further investigate as to why you're unable to enable manual payroll in your QuickBooks Desktop 2020.

Here's how:

1. On your QuickBooks homepage, go to the Help menu.
2. Choose QuickBooks Desktop Help.
3. Tap the Contact us button.

Feel free to post a question below in case you have additional queries. I'll be sure to get back to you. 

I was on the phone with "tech support" for over an hour!  They said, "you cannot do manual payroll in the updated version."  So please give me the name or direct number to contact someone who actually knows what they are talking about!  I do not have time to sit on the phone with someone again to be told the same thing if they are not knowledgeable about what they are talking about!  Thank you for your time!

Hello there, @croskin. 

I'm here to provide some steps to activate your Manual Payroll.

Let's turn off the Internet/WiFi or turn on Airplane Mode on your computer. This is to ensure that you're not connected to the Internet. If you're connected, then QuickBooks Payroll is trying to connect instead of the third-party (Manual).

You can also follow this article for additional information: Troubleshoot QuickBooks Desktop.

After following the steps I've provided, then you can follow my colleague @Kayla H steps to turn on Manual Payroll.

Let me know how this goes for you! I'll be here waiting for your response.

No matter what I've tried, my "help" menu doesn't work.  I get the "Assistance Application has stopped working" error every time I click on "help"   The only way I've found to access "help" is to go to the files n this location.  C:\Program Files (x86)\Intuit\QuickBooks 2014\Components\Help\content\hlphtml1.zip\ContentPackage\Payroll\Payroll_Other_Services

If I click on the "task_manual_payroll" html file -- it brings me to the help screen (in Internet Explorer" that gives me this: 

Hello, @dkr1.

Allow me to chime in with insight into your QuickBooks 2014 support issue.

QuickBooks Desktop has discontinued support for 2017 and older versions because they want to make QuickBooks better and easier to use. Meaning your file path to get to help won't work. You need to upgrade your 2014 version to 2018 or older so we can ensure you get the best possible support. By upgrading, you can get the manual payroll activated and working for your employees. We'll also be able to provide optimum support for you as you need it.

We know change isn't always a good thing, but if you have any questions or concerns, you can comment back here. Have a great weekend!

I have Quickbooks Accountant 2018 and I have the exact same issue when activating manual payroll.

As I know the only way to activate manual payroll is via help menu and help works fine until I click "Set your company file to use the manual payroll calculations setting". It opens a page with this link : intuithelpfile://H_PAY_CALC_TAXES_WO_QB_PAYROLL/

and with this error:

The webpage cannot be displayed

Most likely cause:

• Some content or files on this webpage require a program that you don't have installed.

Hi there, @Sohail1.

I want to make sure you're able to use the manual payroll calculations in QuickBooks Desktop. 

Before you set up manual payroll, be sure to update your version of QuickBooks, so you get the latest fixes and enhancements. Let me guide you how: 

1. Go to the Help menu, then choose Update QuickBooks Desktop.
2. Click the Update Now button, then select Get Updates to start the download. 
3. Restart the QuickBooks, then install the new release. 

After that, make sure that the payroll setting inside QBDT is enabled so you can manually run payroll. 

Here's how: 

1. Click Edit at the top, and then select Preferences.
2. On the left panel, select Payroll & Employees then go to the Company Preferences tab.
3. In the QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Features section, select the Full Payroll radio button.
4. Select OK.

Once done, you can now create the manual payroll. Let me guide you how:

1. Click Help at the top, and then select QuickBooks Help (or press F1 on your keyboard).
2. In the Search field, type manual payroll and press Enter on your keyboard.
3. Select the topic Calculate payroll manually (without a subscription to QuickBooks Payroll).
4. Under Set your company files to use the manual payroll calculations setting, click the manual payroll calculations link.
5. Select Set my company file to use manual calculations link. When your company file is set up for manual payroll computation, QuickBooks inserts a zero amount for each payroll item associated with a tax.
6. Close and reopen QuickBooks Desktop.

To learn what’s new and improved in the latest updates to QuickBooks Desktop 2020, please check this article: Release notes for QuickBooks Desktop 2020.

Please feel welcome to post again if you have further questions about QuickBooks.

followed above directions and the manual payroll box will not allow a check mark.

see attached screenshot.

tech support won't help, refers me to subscription

Hey there, @Topaz1. 

Thank you for following the steps provided by my colleague above. 

Since the steps aren't working for you, then you'll need to contact our support team as they have the tools available to review your account and have the ability to remote into your computer to check your INI file for QuickBooks. The INI file is to help configure the manual payroll. I've included the steps below to contact support.

1. Open QuickBooks. 
2. Click the Help menu at the top, then choose QuickBooks Desktop Help.
3. Hit Contact Us.

Let me know if you have further questions or concerns. You can always reach out to the Community or me anytime you need assistance. Take care! 

Can I add a question to the Manual Payroll?

I have obviously one subscription software copy to QB with Desktop Payroll.

I have two companies  one main - one with just a few transactions a month using that copy.  Can I used Manual Payroll in that 2nd company without affecting my Desktop Payroll in my main company

Hello there, BookLady1.

Thanks for joining the thread.

If the two companies are in separate files, then yes, you can use the manual payroll on the second one. It won't affect the main company file. 

Comment again if you need anything else. Have a great day!

Cannot find topic calculate payroll manually (without a subscription to Quickbooks Payroll).  When I put in "manual payroll",  It tells me to search for it in help, and the result loops back to the same thing.  I did the first payroll for this client last month (resulting in much hair pulling) and going to August, 2020, it tells me the steps to take, same as above, and cannot find it.  HELP!

Jim Blake

Hi Jim,

It looks like the article was already removed, I couldn't see it either. However, to enable the manual payroll, you can follow Sophia's steps above. If you can't see them, please update your QuickBooks.

1. Click on Help and choose Update QuickBooks Desktop.
2. Put a checkmark on the Reset Update checkbox.
3. Click on the Get Updates button.
4. Restart your computer after downloading the updates.

If you still can't follow the steps, please reach out to our QuickBooks Desktop Payroll Support to check this further. Check out their schedule as well.

You can always reach out if you have additional questions.

I was able to muddle through July, 2020 payroll, but when I go to August, nothing is carried forward.  The employees are there, but no earnings or deductions are carried forward.  I am using Desktop Pro 2019 version.

I tried the instructions included above, but none of the links are available in the program

Jim Blake

Hi Jim Blake,

If you're referring the article for updating QuickBooks Desktop to the latest one, the link or steps provided by my colleague above will work. On the other hand, the link for enabling manual payroll seems removed. The steps shared by Sophia will work in the program for manually creating payroll to carry the earning and deduction of your employees. 

We can contact our payroll specialist to guide you further in doing the process. Here's how to connect with them:

1. Go to the Help menu once you open QuickBooks.
2. Click QuickBooks Desktop Help or press F1 on your keyboard.
3. Select Contact us button. 
4. Enter a short description of your concern in the Tell us more about your question box. 
5. Hit Search. Select Start a message.

Please visit again if there's anything I can help you with. Stay safe.

I am using QBDP 2019 and I do not see the options you mentioned "My Payroll Service"

How can I remove the Payroll Service Key so as to enable Manual Payroll.

Thanks